Travel Guide: How to Spend Two Days in Montenegro.

I very quickly fell in love with Montenegro when I visited last summer. Like Dubrovnik, I’d been wanting to visit for over a decade, so when I finally had the flights booked, I had very high expectations. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed, and I’m now dreaming of returning.

We hired a car in Dubrovnik and drove over to Montenegro (a short 90-minute drive) for the weekend. We were so impressed with the dreamy food, the beautiful views, and the friendliness of the locals, that we wished we were staying longer, but Montenegro is very doable in just a weekend, and two days gives you the perfect taste of this lovely country.

So, ready to find out about our 2-day trip to Montenegro? Let’s go!

With just two days to see everything Montenegro has to offer, I’m pretty proud of what we managed and can’t wait to tell you the best places to go and our favourite food spots!

Where to stay in Montenegro

We stayed at Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay, and had an absolutely terrible experience. Neither of us would recommend it. Aftab’s friends actually moved over to the Hotel La Roche though and absolutely loved it there! So personally I would not recommend the Hyatt Regency Kortor Bay. Instead, stay at Hotel La Roche, or get a room at Nikki Beach which even has a house speedboat to help you with transfers across the bay!

Best things to do in Montenegro

There’s so much to see and do in Montenegro, it’s just the prettiest country with sooo many picturesque places and viewpoints.

1. Perast

Perast was my favourite place in Montenegro. It’s the prettiest little town and Aftab and I literally could not stop taking photos – I have hundreds just of Perast! We stopped in Perast on our way from Dubrovnik to our hotel on the other side of Kotor Bay, and I wish we had more time here and did the little boat trip that takes you to the Our Lady of the Rocks. It’s something I’ll definitely do next time!

Just wandering around this beautiful village was so dreamy – the little old fishing boats bobbing up and down, the sun dazzling across the water that’s flanked by big, beautiful mountains. I had to really pinch myself. We got a gelato from Moritz Eis and stared up at the stunning Heritage Grand Perast Montenegro, wishing we were staying there (and we wished this even more after all the issues at our hotel!)

Top tip: Park at the top car park and walk down. The car park is reasonably priced, and there’s a little free golf cart shuttle if you don’t want to walk.

2. Kotor Old Town

Kotor Old Town itself is super cute and is a must-see while in Montenegro! It’s famous for being the home to hundreds of stray cats that are lovingly cared for by the locals of Kotor (there’s even a cat museum there), and while we were there, there were dozens of tiny kittens which were unbelievably cute!! One of them fell asleep on my bag, so I picked him up for a cuddle and he snuggled into my hair and I actually could not cope.

As well as the cats, the maze of narrow cobblestoned streets in Kotor are really beautiful – the architecture is very similar to Dubrovnik with that stunning limestone, and it feels like such an adventure trying to find your way around the hidden alleyways and pretty little squares. Visit the churches and cathedral in Kotor, then head to the Hotel Hippocampus rooftop for a cheeky drink overlooking the town!

The most famous thing to do in Kotor Old Town is hike up to the fortress. I did this walk in a dress and birkenstocks, and I would definitely recommend wearing more suitable clothing haha. I kept slipping on the smooth, shiny stones, and it was SO hot I was sweltering. It’s a fairly difficult walk as it’s quite a way, but it’s 100% worth it! The view at the top is one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen in my life!

Top tip: Make sure you carry cash on you for the entrance to the hike, and wear suitable shoes (trainers or walking shoes)! There are also no toilets, so go before the walk. 

3. Porto Montenegro

Porto Montenegro is the super swish part of the country. It’s home to big yachts, fancy shops, and numerous fine dining restaurants and bars. We really loved getting dressed up and walking around the marina, choosing our favourite boats, and meeting two of Aftab’s friends for a swanky dinner.

We began with drinks at Forza, and we wished we had stayed there for dinner too. We went down the road to ‘One’ for dinner, and we just didn’t really think it was very good. The location of One also wasn’t as nice as Forza!

4. Nikki Beach, Tivat

Because our hotel pool wasn’t open during our stay due to issues with theirs, the hotel paid for us to go to Nikki Beach at Tivat for the day to use the pool there instead, and we had the best time! You have to pre-book a daypass before you get there, but it’s soooo pretty, with multiple outdoor swimming pools to choose from, sunbeds, and DJs. The pools overlook the bay, and it’s just so beautiful.

As well as the DJ there was also a saxophone player, but the place was empty! Apparently it’s much busier in the height of summer, but we visited at the beginning of June which was the shoulder season. We still had a great time though. My only complaint is that the service wasn’t great and the staff were very snobby and unfriendly, but I still think it’s worth visiting – just something to consider.

5. Budva

I am SO sad we never got to Budva as it looks super lovely and I’ve heard so many things about the town and beaches there! So promise me you’ll go, and then tell me all about it?! It’s high on my list for the next time I visit Montenegro, but we didn’t go this time around as it was raining the morning we were going to go, so we left Montenegro earlier than planned and popped over to Trebinje in Bosnia instead.

Montenegro Restaurants – Where to Eat & Drink

Montenegro is much, much cheaper than Dubrovnik when it comes to food and drink, so your money goes a really long way here.

1. Verige 65

Verige 65 was probably my favourite restaurant in Montenegro. The location was absolutely stunning, right on the side of a hill overlooking the water and mountains. The food was also incredible! We shared a bunch of dishes and all of them were just delicious.

2. Stari Mlini

We dined at Stari Mlini on our last night in Montenegro, and it was a bit of an unexpected visit. We’d actually booked a table at a different restaurant, but we turned up for our booking to find they were closed! We couldn’t believe that they’d allowed us to book a table when the restaurant wasn’t open, but our lovely taxi driver promised he’d take us somewhere else to make up for the disappointment.

He drove us to Stari Mlini, and we had the such an amazing meal there!

It’s the prettiest restaurant in an old mill, set amongst trees and plants, and a little river running alongside it. The food was also really good, and it definitely made up for our bad experience at the other place! Just make sure you bring mosquito spray!!

3. Forza Porto

Forza was where we had drinks in Porto Montenegro, but I wish we had eaten there as well. It’s a pricey place, but the Hugo Spritz’s were SO good and it was really worth the price. It’s also right on the water, so you get the loveliest views over the marina and the water.

4. Hotel Hippocampus Rooftop

We stumbled upon Hotel Hippocampus accidentally, and found an absolute gem! Enjoy an iced tea or a cocktail on the beautiful roof terrace overlooking the mountains and town of Kotor. It was super quiet when we went, and is hidden down a little side-street.

5. Moritz Eis

Moritz Eis isn’t exclusive to Montenegro, and they actually have a few locations within Europe. But this was hands down the BEST gelato, the lemon and mint sorbet was absolutely amazing and so refreshing!

Frequently Asked Questions about Montenegro

What is the language of Montenegro?

The language of Montenegro is Serbian.

Is Montenegro expensive?

Montenegro is a lot cheaper than Dubrovnik! We really noticed the difference between the two places.

What currency does Montenegro use?

Montenegro uses the Euro. Take cash because a lot of places, and taxis, don’t take cards (and there’s no Uber).

An Adriatic Gem

Montenegro is truly an Adriatic gem that’s perfect for a long weekend of exploring, good food, and great value. It’s better priced than Dubrovnik, and although I loved Dubrovnik, I think I actually preferred Montenegro? It’s just absolutely breathtaking, the drive as you wind your way around the water right beside the mountains is just incredible. I was in awe. Book a trip to Montenegro, and you won’t be disappointed.